PH Question

[Anonymous]

Ok I have noticed a slow drop in my PH since I started using the RO/DI unit. I test the water from the unit and got a 7.2 return. Would I need to add backing soda or some other buffer to the water before I top off. I did test and found the 2 table spoons brought the PH up to 8.4. I do not think its an CO2 issue my house is not that tight and we have the windows open a lot. Any help or suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

 

[Anonymous]

There's no need to test the PH of your RO/DI water.

What is the PH, Calcium, and Alkalinity of your tank water? There are a LOT of reasons for a low PH but Baking soda will only work if your Alkalinity is low.

 

[SnowManSnow]

Most salt additives will take care of the PH. I don't worry about topoff either.

B

 

[zombiereef]

i think the real problem is your Dkh or carbonate hardness. have you tested your dkh? my guess is that it is very, very low. if your carbonate hardness is up around 9 or so, where it should be, your ro/di water shouldnt make a difference to ph when it is added to your tank. how do add freshwater or topoff your system due to evaporation?
i have a automatic topoff system that adds kalkwasser to my sump as needed. i use about a half gallon a day. my ph stays at 8.4 during the day and will only drop off to 8.2 at night. my dkh is around 9 (+/-1) and my calcium stays around 400 ppm.
if you dont want to add kalkwasser to your system, you can buffer (kent superbuffer/etc) your water before you add your salt.

 

[Anonymous]

Ok I have noticed a slow drop in my PH since I started using the RO/DI unit. I test the water from the unit and got a 7.2 return. Would I need to add backing soda or some other buffer to the water before I top off. I did test and found the 2 table spoons brought the PH up to 8.4. I do not think its an CO2 issue my house is not that tight and we have the windows open a lot. Any help or suggestion would be appreciated.

Thanks in advance

\

Do not use buffer to raise pH. You will throw your alkalinity way out of wack. Buffer is what protects pH, it doesn't increase it except only temporarily.

If your alkalinity is where it needs to be, adding 7.2 top off water isnt going to affect anything.

Alkalinity is the measurement of how much of that acidic water you can dd until it wil affect the pH. My thought is that your buffer system (alkalinity/calcium) is off.

The best way to raise your pH is with proper water changes over time. Circulating your change out water for 24 hrs or more, testing it's salinity/specific gravity, and the pH. You will be suprised that water at 7.2, mixed properly with yoru salt, will bring the pH naturally to around 8.2.This is best done over time. You do not want to dramatically shift your pH. That is worse than having a consitant lower pH.

Once you have established yoour desired pH, I suggest using b-ionic 2 part buffer system (or similar buffer) to maintain the alkalinity, especially if you are topping off a lot.

 

[Anonymous]

PH = 8.0
Alk = 10
Calcium = 400
SG = 1.023
Top off one gallon/day

50 gal ( about 42 gal water) tank 8 gal a week water change. Last water change yesterday

Here the reading as of now.

 

[Anonymous]

PH = 8.0
Alk = 10
Calcium = 400
SG = 1.023
Top off one gallon/day

50 gal ( about 42 gal water) tank 8 gal a week water change. Last water change yesterday

Here the reading as of now.

A pH of 8.0 is fine. Don't worry too much about chasing numbers. \And your alk looks fine as well. Your calcium is on the bottom side of good...try and increase this a bit. If it drops, I can see how your pH may be lowered as this part of your buffer system is as important as the alk itself.

I suggest doing more frequent wc's for a couple of weeks as well. Don't increase the volume, just the frequency...and just by 1 or 2 more a week. You want to do things slowly.

At 1 gal a day (which is where I am as well), you should be using a good buffer system like b-ionic 2 part. I find that it is the best product to keep calcium and alk perfectly level when used properly